Embattled Senator Dino Melaye has been warned to desist from impersonating a socio-political group, the Arewa Youth Assembly (AYA).
The leadership of the group said in a statement that the senator had been allegedly committing criminal activities in the group’s name.
According to the statement, an emergency meeting of the group has been summoned to explore the option of legal action against the senator.
The controversial senator is currently battling a recall process initiated by some persons in his Kogi West senatorial district and prosecution by the Federal Government for allegedly trying to implicate the Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor, Edward Onoja, over an assassination attempt on his (Melaye’s) life.
The statement signed by AYA’s Speaker, Muhammed Salihu, said that a photo banner, apparently working against constituted authority, was posted on Melaye’s Facebook wall, using AYA’s name.
The statement read in part, “The photo banner, which read “Malami Shame on you”; “GYB Big Shame on You”, which was allegedly sponsored by the Arewa Youth Assembly.
“We never supported any act of criminality, most especially from whom the younger generation of the North view as being disrespectful to constituted authorities.
“Senator Dino Malaye has continued to make mockery of our respected Upper Chamber of the National Assembly. While we view this as a deliberate attempt to drag our organisation into unnecessary blind support, insult respectable members of the Federal Executive Council and a governor, we wish to distance ourselves and our organisation, the Arewa Youth Assembly, from this criminal act of impersonation.
“It is very shameful for a Senator to resolve to hiring thugs for promoting and inculcating unethical behaviours in youths who are supposed to learn from him. Respect for elders and authorities is a pride to an Arewa Youth.
“This act of criminality and disrespect is an abuse on the collective interest of the Arewa Youths. We condemn this in all ramifications.
“We, therefore, urge the public to disregard the banner and pray that God will erase such elements from the seat of power in 2019.”
The statement further read, “The Arewa Youth Assembly leadership has called for an emergency executive meeting to address the issue and possibly institute a legal action on both the impostors and the propagator of the information.”